REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 919, 12 September 1910, Page 4

REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON AND OTAGO. LOCAL BACKS OUT-GEOAI THE VISITORS. RANFURLY SHIELD HATCH. AUCKLAND THE BROWN SHIELD.

■'''; 11l past year's, the Otago , footballers have more' than .'/held .'/their.'.own; in matches agauist 'AVellingtbnj: : played in .this- 6ity7-:.and;consequently:local.Rugby enthusiasts 'looked, 'forward to/: an' interesting ; match: on."; Saturday, stan'ding;'-reports .that/'football,in'.ptago 'conditions prevailed '.for: jttip /fine.; weather, with - ; very. .little.,wind; : and'the. playing , ground {: in ■' capital ./: order;;'./.; The/; official • tally.'sfet-the atteridarice y^own- as num-' ibering JSOOO/'spectators, /'those/ present' ..including.-.the;;PrimeVMinisler;.',aud : the ;Hpns/ J/ J&rrpld/and^/A/Millar,'.and . : prominent'"bffioia)s.foi...-&<.Ney : ;ZoalMd' 'Rugbyj/Umon.'/The /result of the match' ; was ■; tbat V tho. \ Wellington; /team; ; ,waS . thbrpughlyi : ;tested,.; ; a ; nd //emerged/from „the-::;.stfnggle i ..victqnous ) ;first; occasion suffered:■ : iAthUtio Pftrk.; ..Of i'thff^twenty-pniy• matches; that''haye been played/each:: union -te./lipw/won •Bine, ■ whde. tbreeMiavo: -beeh'' dratfn/./ - 'Bonsational' as^the ; ;contest'; of; 1008, /'it was nevertheless -full! of /'excitement; It ' was"a;?ganie/'in'-' which- a'-grMt;--strong /gpt/of/Otigpv forwards'/wore (sent;; but: to; beat pack, /and ;tp ■endeaypur..;;i»',bre^^^ luf •&. ;skilful ..set;.b"fstbacksf'/ /It;,'is; ,tibt top-much/: to/say.; that; the* Otago. ;for-; wards:did' ; belit' ; ;the--.l6'oai forwards* /aad ■ tho' niagmficeiit,vsUre Jine-kicking .of;the; .visitors', /full-baik;,,'.was../calculated-;tp : further 'f upsetKtho oSbrbs;of the/White weakness;: of'. •thejMyiuigtpnVbaoTiiy:.ttiSElayedvi\.:dcx:terity that:was' iibh-'to'bp : balUed,/aiid' '.dp- tne; teaui won''the';day/,'///'v/'■'■"l- • :.,-/;/'/ ;///J'The;:Te)ims/;;;/ //;/ .V: ;, /the"; ;;//;; //■VfollmgtM^wlutel/Fu^^^ ;,b'6'u \(Athletio^i-.'three-quartcrsi,;j;;Ryan; (Porielie;,/Dawson: (Qldv Boys) /en;tal)/M'Leod/'(Orients I be'rts '(Oriental);' -: wing, //Avery/'(Old '(St. - James), vlKiahv j(Pbneke),'■;Rapson ;.(\VellmgUDn),^Brup^(St;}'James);'i'-;\;:;-v;!Otagp^(darkvbltie) : :;/ ; Scott; : '-.. 'Hardingham/Chambers / .'M'Dp'u- ,';' half, ■':■'-Eplihbjd; : /wing, ;Ivimey;:vfprwards/^AvScott ) ; ;;T.; ; Wik Ham's j -Paterson, -Paton, 0 y B/ Graham. ;SKe^haay^itche!lv/;;/,/,;/;'/^ '&£*:i-%ry'i.^ tJdfeg'pAWPii '/tlel toss" and; defended "flip-. Bonthera/gc'aly.,: ■;. There/was: -a/islight ibreeze in: their. favour;v.but"the^ : sun.;'was.

?y; against" '•'.tten) : -s It; i' was, •: howeverj : not )/} fs&ongjand'iwas" 'frequently.'.'obscured'-by: |^' l :'iw6Vihinutes!/a^r;;;to«'\start' , ''wMnVt'K6. 1 }';*': 'through f / flEvensoh//- who;; saved ''/with// ajj. kipt.'V.-to l i / v'itbuc'hv',''-:Otago:. hdftj/a/bhance//a' v but?Eckbbld'.)Tailedlto ;get f-f-; wards' ihakihg n* in/one .'.'rush';- Jas;.' Ryam missed-ite^balr

j;;;aiid':the%hole;packr-swarmSi;:'dowk4to-fv wards/' i;'.-V^ini-' got the: ball /tol'touch;; -ff Dtago $'§ • forwards; got'.. i-tossessibri''bri' the \ ;back';tejF.*;"Williains:" i .who f/imade/a ; firie dash/for/the/line};being just ;.;• collared : itt'time\by:Roberts;;'.;The posi-f-i/.tibn/lpoked'sti^ j;^Patersoh^ :r secur^''a*'-cl^Ter:vmark';in. an \ .jeasy:position,''but,' Patbtt's/"/k76k'7waV:a ■f: ;v failure,/arid •> forced; /'/// The i ; /-local: .forwards'-'got••/a .{chance \ when//F. [ : :-r/.Wilh'ams/'missed :! ;. "<:'se'nt>'a ''■"lohis" to : !sr-fpuhd -the line v ab6yoVhair7Way: i.Subse- \ 'squent'.tp aVexchah'ge"of -ticks between f; -.-the' opposing-; backs; ;.,Grahani','aritl J'Shee;.:v:han- headed ;a local '-•.''. gbjii,'.-; but^Roberts;'.saved--byV--marking. K;.: Otago /essayed/passihgl'.but:;it failed;and ' ; Scott;got ; them.'out,-of-'trouble';: with !;.-another i great-line-kick'.' 'iJ'. ; B.;. Graham ' ■■'■'injured' his /-finger ■'-, tired,- bit .took ;th*e. neld;. : .a',few; minutes :.; persistent'rushesjof {the'lOtagb .forwards; ; ;;and':the';safe '■■:■. peared to ■be .;tellirig; againstcWellington,at'this/stage, but'-;tHeJdefenceire'mained; ; sonnd. : ;. ;., their.. '; back-/to''-withinj-fiye/.yards ,of :.tKe;;half- [:. way-flag;madei : a- L good.;btit : unsuccessful : ; ;kick-i/lihgtph-;/we're';/ih.' ; 'difficulties ragaih/and

i^/A.''-'Scott|"a^f;a;; ; ißmarVruh-i'- was'ibrily' ■by i MitchinsonTbn;the-line and'^.Kinvig/.gbt;: possession:, and'' passed-; to; ;/ Dawson' who ,fbuiid :; tho ; line.-" ; -The. local ■: this"and-suddenly,Roberts■ broke'/awtty I;".■; about: mid-field'■: 'and vaftcr'■■ beating ■• s'ev- ;> eral men/ passed out.'tp Leahy-who, sent /. tho.ball en- to.'Hillsjfthe rlastnairied /made, /a, fine .^^^ ; /: : b'ut:afew/yards/ from tho J scoring, area. ;.: Then iEveiison,',from .full-back, made-a: : gobd'-run' and' passed to -Bruce, and.th.eh ;.,.Mitchihsoh;.got,hold of:.it"arid.sent. to. .f'teuch;'^';Wellih^toh's : tunej.was now apr proaching: -. Mitchinson^ : :mado. a fine zig-; ,/ zag run from ;half-way and their went ;. "well, iii-field and;- gave '...the.; ball; to -. Ir-' .vine.''; The. latter lost /it' .a -few: : : yards. 'fromthe lino, but•'.M'Eellar; picked up and scored Thear the posts. yKihvig con- : ,• yertetl/;'■.,.;■'.■■;.-I'--;:/'':^-':•■' -'x-: : .C : '- ; 'v. " "...'. :;i:. : .V....;;iV..;:i.1;.V;5; / : > Otago ;'■ ''.;.i, v ;.;.'.i.yi'......'..'...'.!'-. 0 ' I ,'- Avery .and Irvine at- the- head of.;a Wellington,forward rush.took play.'to. the 'Otago full-back, : buti. that. ..player-' i took the. ball from the'feet of tho'for--1 wards- and !: dodging through • -half ;• ;pf; sont ; play s baok . to ./.Wellington twenty-five.;' ■'■■ Otago. : forwards worked higher ; up, and from. a.' scrum, np'ar' tho .line Eckhold secured arid passed to Watson, who fell; over .the line'at the corner, Dawson. Paton's kick failed;: y-.'-'-.i-i/.-.': ". ..,'. . vW^Uington;..;;..../.^i..vv;.'....;• 5' '■■ Otago '"i%:.. : .; i ',i,..■.-.;..;;.;._.'.;... .3 .;- : . Roberts; Sct)res v ciever!y.v;: - Within the next '.five, niinutes Roberts made two fine.-'.ruii's ■~ for, Wellington, pud in the second he was; collared a yard from the tine. S A scrum followed. Otago hooked the ball,; and Eckhold was about to kiok to' touch when Roberts took the ball ,dff i'Jiis too and dropped over the line faded to convert, and tho scoies at half-time lead Wellington, 8 Otago 3 Just after tho'"start of the second spell, Ivimey and Avtry clashed, and both were temporarily disabled. Otago kept Wellington at the twenty-five line for some minutes. In an Otago passjug rush. Kinvig intercepted, but gave

a 'very/ weak 'kick, and Hardingham marked in.front ..of' the goal..- G. Bcott converted.- /;: •'''-,''■;'■• -" ' '. .'■'■-,. % Wellington'.-i....',..........••.••■ B'-;; : " Otago '.■ ./...„..'......'..v..... ; ... : 6 . - "After the kick-out-Roberts set .the baicks going, -but; the ball,, aftor travelling,-: thrbugbj, M^Leod,'.'..-.-Kinvig, and Mitchinsori; --, was; missed' by'-Dawson. • A. continuous ,attack :was kept -up by tho local; nion, and;- 'in'.'•. one -goo'd- forward vrush' Avery- got possession, and passed out to Boberts, who ran.' on and passed in-field to Rapson.V-The last-named was collared on : the line, and- M'Kellar made ;an':effprt, to.get.the ball, but Otago 'forced... .More.Wellington passing failed :bpcause. Dawson, missed, -,a ipass, but' then;. Avery ..got possession jlagain iri-.'a -rush, and got. the,ball,away->to -M'Leod. The.latter sent"ori;tb-Mitchinson,,who divedvforJthe./lineV and'just-i'got' over.. F;'Roberts;failedrto:."gPal.i .V ■■,"■■;.■•'■:■':■ : ; r:!-Weilington :"V.. : .;^;V/:^. ; v;;: 11- -'■' ;;;;■ .0tag0;;';..^...^i...;.. :.:1i'.-; 6:,; 'UFollpwing-the.: drop : putv;playy wcnt'.up' ■and .do.wii-.-field.-.at^regularir.intervals; .both sides rWorking> : hard '.without much success. Audi .Mitchell .were conspicuous ;-;,:in the :.Ota'gp;:, forward - rushes/' and'; Leahy; arid'; Briice in. the; ■Wellington .rushes..:--Otago; near their '.own 'line ;were: penalisedi.-tor not .throw-., .irig.'.in-five yards/and:Jas.;Ryan,goaled. : /■^Wellington; ; .-- i . ; . : ;..-i.;.l!i-.';; , .'. : . v.; 14 '■:■'■ ■;,?,f-.ptaEo'-S-;';;-.v.-;i';.:;-:;:^ .;. doubt,' though.: 0 tago I w'ere:,,on;;the.,'attack,once or-; on; ihe;:,cali;.of; time : Wellington ;:,fonrards'fUvefe .strongly/ and; ; .lrviiie : 'made', ajdash; for the; line. v He lost.tho.ball, but Perry securedpt"and .'scored; I ;in-,the;.;corner^.; ;Jas.'.;Ryan lacked.a ; great-goal.. :.?; ; , : 7. ':i/:. : Wdiingtoii'/'iS-v:./:.>;.u:^„ ;■■■; .'..Otago■•■'■'■'. : .'Z;'.\.u':\\&.„CS;i?.';...Ja : / '' - -v,- : ilro J./Franc'is';ivas:, referee/' -.-. v'' 1 / ; :/M OT ES:: ON : J H E/C ' ':.:.AVhen-. : tbe' Wellington, 'representative's -left for. Auckland,'to .'play!.'the)-Ranfurly Shield match/doubts' were expressed as tp.;whether ..tho. brilliant .set'of;.jbacks would'be able.:to;:stand;,up : agaiiist : the onslaughts of : thb-Auckland They .proved; equal ; : occasion/': and ;theiir/wbrtb ; ;at: Atldetic ; -Park oii ■ Saturday,'';. When they Iwithstood ' the fierce ; : attacks''of bnalofrthe.; finest; set of that;. ; bas ever: been/chosen ■rio- represent' the Otagb province,; Dur-ing'-.'the;first tlie'visitin'g paQk.j.pams '.'awd'j; /from J-,alniPst' .every sorun/'-arid with;.., the .-ball- at toe,.■ and' v nad;-'they .the .Wellington^/backs'- /:defencp'-. tbey migb|j;ha've;. 'regißj^rfd,'fjtfor^i, : thanf'ib'ne score, -,-:aind ; . so.'.estab.lishe'd;■' ,:i'-' : ' sufficient lead to-' wih-\ithe'' match'.;. But; every■ member ofv'thp/'Wellirigtbri rearguard ■went : . down, to. the; rushes, . and if ■.' one failed;;tp ( 'stcni the.tide-tho'next man made 'the -game the/..visitors '/were;: superior.,; in ;;tho scrum::aiid /.on';.the''dirie-out/abput ;the only point,'.'-in .. : yhicK ' the •Wellington for-. . wardi; put-shoiie their being the' manner "of.-;;;: breaking-up '.quickly., and chiming; in {when.-the-'/passing/. • rushes , were'on// //;//;//■■.-■ ///•;;/;' ■'. : ; . : ' --.v' :■:; --.

.r i PateniwAs i ,withbut'doubt the.pick'of : the/; Otago : the ball', bettor/ than '.'.any''; scrummer that has-. been ;: seenr;in-..Wellingtoh. 'for.-many. 4, ; dayj:'.while -his , L 'for ;|;.'a forward,.was eicoptibrially.Jgbpd..;.-Pater-' sbri'wasbest oh ! the line-out) arid came' away .with the .'ball; again, and,' again.' The .hookers, .A. Scott;ajidp. Williams, : secured the:-ball.;.with ! great;Tcgiilarity.. Williarns .is; the,--forward -that was so successful j with; the',Miiori'. team In ' Aus-.. tralia../Graham 'was.'unlucky to -injure his'hand -in;the.-first■'spell;; but. he did .good work, '..'asdid Mitchcllarid Sheehan. ■/r.lvimey-'ari'd'Ave'ry.were,a ; good match as'."wingers,''/and;; both/./looked; v after: Pne- aiibthor,; throrighout'.'.: the.;, /game.. ;Avery. was; "playing; splendidly v.;towards the 'end /of k theV ■'second;' ■ spell. ' His ability 'to/get:,thb.ball-.from..'his/'ioel inti',bis/ v liands.iin;a;drihbling.rush .was. . demonstrated/rno're;than~ once ,'ori Saturday.,;/.He is/ a /past-master in. this, par-. ficular':ybraiicn.;;;iOf:/ the/- Wellington' s'crurnmers,.it : would be.-.unfair to-single out;: anyj one;maii.' '...All; worked / well,. though: perhaps,Leahy.;wiistlie fastest, ribtwithstanding'his 14st;/ilb//-v : ;' ; ./: G.' Scott,:/;fuU-backj tho best;.of'the'visitors';/rearguard;, arid, his* splendid ■ all-round "play/was./ frequently applauded by: the/speptaltbrs. :: His line"-' 'kicking'was .in fact,"the : feature of the' first..spell., The, rest ,'bf ; thb. backs-wero. very,, weak in but, /they, /maintained a'j fair,"defencp/,iintil' the, cbricludirig stages, of- the ;Rairie';' Eckhold was. ;perhaps /v a'.i little..better, th/anj /the:. o theirs.'. ; F.t/Willi'ariis :was-' injured'/; m-' : th'e' second spell, arid'R.vGrahani tbpk h'is'placo, at :.fiye-eißhths. :,'' ; :■:.;//--:/;-- : -'■"/;:/;/:, ; ■/' ;'.■■;■ again/the; star. He.was:noi„',pnly cap--tain',; but : ge/ne'ral'as well, and;.he. had his'men.pkced so' well behind ,him that -ribt.-bne of his passes, went "astray.- His score,/, when„.ho. off Eck-; 'hold's toe, and'felL.p'yor;,the "line, was. one. of .the cleverest; pieces of /. football brio' could .'imagine...."./ The Otago players : romarkbd.;,Ui.a,t,,it:w\^a l ,ribthiiig, new, a.s Roberts had done the same thing on a previous-occasion-in Dunediri.

;' Bohind Roberts, the next three backs worked -in : concert. :.Kinvig;;played his .usual/sound garno,. his passing was cool and accurate,' and his; line-kicking first rate. No one. can recall a game during tho present.-season/in .which'this player has failed in' any respect when he has had, either Roberts.pr-.M/Leod in front, of/him.';v/ ;/.i;/, : : : :/-:,''/.; : ;„,./-.,;:■ .

V'M'Lnod,•':.■ Mitchinoon,; u. Ryan, and Eyensmi all'played 'sound-football, but Dawson had a : - day; ./off;- ■■> Mitchinson made one. fine : run in-the:.first spell, iiid when ho scored in the second spell lis dive, i for the''.'line was. reminiscent if .^Duncan'M|QreSor.,; '/....C : ; , v '

'V,Next.. Saturday's. niatcli- should wit nora an interesting .contost." between th< Wellington and Canterbury backs. Per haps the local-scrum-'could bo • iin proved by placing' bigger men. in tin front row and bringing a couplo of nev men of the stamp of King into tin team. Hills and lrvino 1 played well 01 but woro unablu to hook tin ball, and a couple of bigger, men mighl bo an improvement.': If the Wellington Rugby Union couk' arrange for the Auckland tOam to come to Wellington and play on .: Athletic Park before tho close of tho season'the match would create u grout deal of interest, and would supply a much-needed Btimulus- to local -Rugby." 'With favourable weather,, the "gate" should bs worth £400 or £500, and this sum would no doubt he acceptable to the local union after tho expense thoyhave been put to in connection with Miramar Park. 'An Auckland-Wellington match would be more attractive than a Charity Cup match.